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PHOTOS: ‘Earth Play for Earth Day’ event teaches Surrey students about environment

Lily bulbs planted, trash picked up and more at Surrey’s St. Bernadette School’s Earth Day event
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Students from Surrey’s St. Bernadette School plant Lily bulbs during an Earth Day event on April 21. (Photo submitted)

NEWTON — Surrey’s St. Bernadette School held a “cool and engaging” Earth Day event on April 21.

“Earth Play for Earth Day” was held on the school field and aimed to teach children to develop relationships.

“This includes our environment, our community and with each other,” explained principal Michael van der Pauw.

“The students spent a good part of a month bringing in recycled items to play with,” he added. “It ranged from cardboard boxes to rope to pots and pans to old tires and the list goes on. Once all the items were spread out on the field the students engaged in unstructured play. Some build forts, others made musical instruments. Some made suits of armour while others used the items as props in a made up game.”

In addition to the “play” station, there was also a gardening project, as well as a community clean up that took place.

The principal said the children “did a very good job and brought back bags and bags of trash.”

And the beautification project taught the students about plant life, he added.

“They worked together to plant lily bulbs,” said van der Pauw. “One bulb was planted for every student in the school. Extra bulbs were planted for the school staff and the its community. Bulbs were also planted in honour of those who spend their lives defending the environment.”

He l described the day as “wonderful” and said the community, not only the students, reaped the benefits.

amy.reid@thenownewspaper.com

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